Opinion Columns
Sose Hovannisian | The pedagogic power of Instagram
Columnist Sose Hovannisian argues that now more than ever, social media platforms like Instagram play a crucial role in mass communication.
Kiyah Akins | Being an African American student at Penn is exhilarating… and exhausting
Columnist Kiyah Akins sheds lights on the African American experience at Penn and emphasizes the importance of African American centered organizations.
Sarah Alkhafaji and PLTV | Why voting is a privilege, and why you should care about it
Guest Columnist Sarah Alkhafaji, a College senior with Penn Leads the Vote, calls on the Penn community to cast their vote this Election Day.
Brett Seaton | What job should you choose after graduation?
Columnist Brett Seaton discusses the career selection process at Penn and how to think probabilistically about your future.
Spencer Gibbs | Do you love democracy? Then vote Republican.
Columnist Spencer Gibbs prescribes changing parties to vote in the 2024 election primaries.
Andrew Stratton | Spread thin from too many exams at once? Exam periods can help.
Columnist Andrew Stratton explains why midterms should be set around scheduled times for the betterment of students and work-life balance.
Mritika Senthil | Behind the letters: The stranglehold of Greek life and the “scene” on campus culture
Columnist Mritika Senthil examines the cost of social status on campus after reflecting on her own rejection from a frat party and distance from Penn’s South Asian community.
Clever Earth | Pushing the red button: the case for nuking back
Columnist Clever Earth proposes that implementing a retaliatory policy may be rational if it maximizes the probability of deterrence success.
Chloe Chen | The Penn Museum should be free for all Philadelphians
Columnist Chloe Chen suggests that the Penn Museum’s admission fees belie a greater issue of educational gatekeeping to produce intellectual elites.
Andrew Stratton | Fatphobia has no place in Penn culture
Columnist Andrew Stratton explains the problem with fatphobia and why it’s still an issue today.
Franklin Li | Ben Franklin’s personal flaws should not diminish his achievements
Columnist Franklin Li believes that we should not be overly critical of Benjamin Franklin for not always acting in accordance with present-day moral standards.
Jack Lakis | The how and why behind requesting access to your Penn admissions file
Columnist Jack Lakis argues that all undergraduates should do their part to encourage transparency in admissions.
Mia Vesely | Care more about dismissal of charges, less about stolen Macbooks
Columnist Mia Vesely urges people to focus less on sensationalized looting and more on political action and its impact.
Cathy Li | What’s the ROI of learning that?
Columnist Cathy Li examines what it means to study the liberal arts at institutions that prioritize immediate return on investment.
Julu Nwaezeapu | Penn’s silent enemy: Confronting the white-collar monster
Columnist Julu Nwaezeapu illuminates how white-collar crime violently impacts economically-marginalized communities and warns Penn students to beware of their proximity to corporate greed.
Lexi Boccuzzi | Antisemitism shrouded in activism?
Columnist Lexi Boccuzzi calls upon non-Jewish students to become more vocal critics of instances of antisemitism disguised as activism.
Allison Santa-Cruz | Social media is no place for real political discourse
Columnist Allison Santa-Cruz asserts that social media, while potentially a platform for discussing global issues, often fosters dehumanization, polarization, and misinformation. She advocates instead for more meaningful face-to-face interactions and a balanced approach to activism.
Reflections on the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas
Members of the Penn community share out their thoughts and perspectives on the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas, Penn's response to the conflict, and its impact on campus life and discourse.
Sose Hovannisian | How I got Penn to listen to me, and my mother tongue
Columnist Sose Hovannisian describes the process of petitioning for a new language course with a persuadable and willing Penn.